Redknapp calls for discipline

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp asked for more discipline from his side after they clung to victory with 10 men for the second time in three days.

Jermain Defoe was sent off in their 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day while on Tuesday they enjoyed a 2-0 win over Newcastle at White Hart Lane despite having Younes Kaboul sent off after 66 minutes.

Kaboul was sent off after an attempted head butt on Cheick Tiote and Redknapp conceded his lack of focus could have cost the side dearly.

“He is sorry for what he has done but you can’t do that. He had already had a booking and we were winning the game,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“You can throw games away like that but he will learn. He has been in fantastic form for us.”

Nevertheless, Redknapp was delighted to secure the three points, which lifted his side back into the top four.

“A fantastic result. We went one-up and then we had a man sent off again and I’m disappointed with that,” he said.

“You have to keep your discipline at that stage but the lads were fantastic after that.”

“We kept the ball well and went and scored another goal with 10 men.”

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew declared Spurs genuine title challengers after the match.

“Look at the strength they have in depth and of course they are going to be,” Pardew said.

“They are fighting on a number of fronts. With that spirit and a bit of luck here and there they may well pick up a trophy.”

Pardew bemoaned his own squad’s lack of depth and hinted at making some purchases upon the re-opening of the transfer window in January.

“We had two or three key players missing and that is probably where we are weaker than those teams in terms of players coming off the bench,” he said.

“That is something we can hopefully address as we go down the line.”

“Their extra bit of quality, especially in the final third, was the difference.”